In reflecting on my first year in the Learning, Design, and Technology program, I have found the overall structure of the curriculum to be both supportive and intellectually stimulating. The doctoral seminar (EDIT 8990) played an important role in helping me understand the expectations of the program and begin to shape my academic and professional goals. Through interactions with both first-year and more advanced doctoral students, I was able to gain insight into different stages of doctoral development, including common challenges, strategies for navigating them, and potential career pathways. These conversations helped me situate my own experiences within a broader trajectory and feel more grounded in my transition into doctoral study.

The core courses in the program also contributed significantly to building my foundational knowledge. Courses such as EDIT 8190 and EDIT 8100e allowed me to engage with both the theoretical and practical aspects of instructional design and learning sciences. In particular, I found it valuable to work on design-based projects that required translating abstract ideas into concrete prototypes. At the same time, learning about key theories and the historical development of the field helped me better understand how design decisions can be grounded in research. The connection between these courses made it possible for me to simultaneously develop conceptual understanding and practical skills.

During the spring semester, I began to more actively engage with academic literature and research practices. Through coursework, I developed my ability to read, analyze, and synthesize scholarly work, which has been essential in shaping my emerging research interests. In addition, taking courses related to research methods and my areas of interest provided opportunities to explore how different methodologies can be applied to study learning and technology. These experiences have helped me begin to think more critically about research design and how to align research questions with appropriate methods.

Overall, my first year in the program has been an important period of transition and growth. I have developed a stronger understanding of the field, gained experience in both design and research, and begun to clarify my research interests, particularly in AI-assisted learning and learner well-being. Moving forward, I hope to continue building on this foundation by deepening my methodological knowledge and further developing research projects that connect theory, design, and real-world impact.